Scribing device



Feb. 10, 1959 M. A. ROBERTS SCRIBING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 8. 1956 hv A 1111 I1: i, xIlKi INVENTOR MARY A. ROBERTS BY ufiwfmwcmfi Akvk ATTORNEYS M. A. ROBERTS 2,872,735

SCRIBING DEVICE Feb. 10, 1959 Filed Nov. 8. 1956 2 2 Shee ts-Sheet 2 fig- 5 INVENTOR. MARY A. ROBERTS whim mend k oxxonk AT TORN EYS and to provide an exact outline for the stamps. most tedious and time consuming operation with ruler,

the sheet.

United States Patent i SCRIBING DEVICE Mary A. Roberts, Los Angel'es, Calif.

Application November 8, 1956, Serial'No. 621,056 8 Claims. (51. 33-95 This invention relates to improvements in scribing devices, and particularly to an improved device for use in scribing rectangles and other similar geometric outlines on a sheet of material.

In certain types of architectural and engineering drafting, as well as in making commercial art layouts and in specimen mounting, it is often necessary to make a rectangular or other outline involving straight lines on a sheet of paper, cardboard, fabric or the like. In many instances, the outline is repeated at several points-6n the sheet and it is usually desired to maintain a predetermined alignment between the outlines or between any one outline and the edge of the sheet.

'In such instances, it is frequently inconvenient to use a conventional T-s quare, as where the sheet of material comprises a page in a notebook, album or the like. Even where a T-square can be used, it is a relatively slow procedure to lay out the lines of the desired pattern individually;particularly where several outlines of the same size and shape are desired at different points on the sheet.

A familiar eiiample of the foregoing occurs in the mounting of postage stamps for display or for preservation in an album. In such case, the collector is anxious to place the stamps with their base edges precisely parallel to the bottom margin or edge of the mounting page It is a T-square and other conventional drafting aids to set up the outlines in desired alignment on the sheet, andparticularly annoying where a number of stamps of the same size are to be set up on the same page.

The present invention provides a simple and inexp nsive scribing aid wherein a sheet ofpaper or other material is held securely yet readily releasably in a combination T-square and clamping means which provides an accurate and readily reproducible reference to the edge of Advantageously, upon moving the device for scribing at a different place on the Writing surface, the

same basic reference is maintained'to the edge of the sheet. A further feature of the present improved scribing device maintains the identical outline for any desired *number of tracings on different portions of the writing surface.

'In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present improved scriber, a rectangular frame is combined with a basic T-square and clamping structure in such fashion as to cooperate therewith in defining one or more'parts of the outline to be scribed. Further parts of the outline are defined by an arm of the T-square and/or by interchangeable guide members mountable movably within the frame.

A more complete analysis of the invention and of further features and advantages thereof is given in the following description of an illustrative embodiment thereof, which is to be read with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure l is a perspective view of a scribing device embodying the present invention, showing the relation there 2,872,735 Patented Feb. 1Q, 1959 of to a sheet of material on which a rectangular outline is to be drawn, and with a portion of the sheet omitted to reveal underlying details of the scriber,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section view of the scribing device of Figure 1, taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing the scriber in readiness to receive a sheet of material,

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view of the scribing device as in Figure 3, taken from a position corresponding to the line 44 of Figure 1, and

Figure 5 is a plan view of a supplemental scribing guide which is interchangeable or useable with the straight edge scribing guide in 'the device of Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawing, a scribing device embodying the present-invention may be of any desired size as best suited to the type of Work for which the device customarily will be used. Principal components, which 'may be of wood, plastic or similar material, include an elongated central arm 10 having straight and uniformly parallel opposite edges 11, 12. At one end of the central arm 10, a cross arm 14 is provided, being attached to the underside of the arm It) in any suitable way as by ceriienting,fheat sealing or the like depending on the-material of -which the parts are made. The cross arm 14 is arranged precisely at right angles to the central 16 to form a basic T-square structure.

The side edge 16 of the arm 14 constitutes an alignment surface against which to locate the edge 17 of a sheet ofmaterial 18 on which geometrical outlines are to be drawn. There is thus provided a basic reference structure for establishing a predetermined relation between the scribiiig device and the edge 17 of the sheet 18.

'ln'accordance with a feature of the present invention,

'holding'means are provided in conjunction with the basic T-square structure 10, 14, for holding the sheet 18 securely positioned in thescribing device. in the present embodiment, such h'olding means includes a generally semi-circular member 19 which is attached to the underside of the cross arm 14 at opposite ends thereof and extends beneath the main arm iii of the T.

The upper surface 2ti (Figure 3) of the member 19, and'p'articularly that portion which is directly under the main arm 10, is beveled to define a tapered opening between the holding member '19 and the main arm 10.

This not only facilitates the insertion of sheet material, but also provides a sloping surface cooperable with the beveled-undersurface 21 of a slidable wedge 22 for gri 'pingthe" sheet materialto hold it securely in position.

The 'wedge 22 projects through a slot 23 in the central arm 10, advantageously presenting a rounded upper portion 24 which can be grasped readily by the user to move the wedge back and forth along the slot 23, into and out of engagement with the holding member 19. The side walls of the wedge are slotted as at 26 (Figure 1) to have a sliding fit on the arm 10 on opposite sides of the slot 23. Accordingly, it is seen thatsheet material can be securely fastened in the scribing device with fixed relation between the T 10, 14 and the edge of the sheet, and readily removed therefrom.

In accordance with a further feature, the scribing device of the'present invention includes an open frame structure generally designated 27 and comprising straight edged frame members 28, 2%, 3d, 31 arranged at right angles to each other to form a precise rectangle. Two of the frame members 28, 30 on opposite sides of the frame havetran'sverse slots 33 therein and extending substantially the full lengths thereof to accommodate the main 'arm =10. Accordingly, it is seen that the frame is mountedmovably (both endwise and laterally) on the main T arm 10.

h The arm 10 and the frame 27 are adapted to be held fixed in any desired position relative to each other by a means comprising slideable spring clamps 34 which are located on the arm at opposite sides of the frame. Each clamp 34 comprises a-C-shaped portion 36 which fits loosely around the main T arm 10 so as to be freely slideable therealong when properly aligned with the arm 10. Extending from the slide portion 36 is an S-shaped resilient arm 37, the arcuate free end portion of which is adapted to press against the top surface of the adjacent frame member (28 or 30) when the frame is located as desired relative to the arm 10.

When the free ends of the spring arms 37 are positioned on the side frame members 28, 30 as shown in Figures 1 and 2, these members are pressed tightly against the main arm 10 to hold the frame 27 securely in position. Of course, the complementary misalignment created between the C-shaped slides 36 and the arm 10 further contribute to the secure positioning of the frame.

When the frame 27 is to be moved, a slight downward pressure on the resilient arms 37 will realign the slides 36 with the arm 10 and allow the operator to slide the clamps 34 away from the frame. When the frame is in the desired position, the upstanding end edges of the arms 37 permit the operator to raise them readily over the frame members 28, 30 for placement in the holding posi tion.

The other two side frame members 29, 31 have full length channels 38 formed in the facing edges thereof to accommodate a lateral scribing guide 39. The guide 39 has a sliding fit in the channels 38 so as to be moveable readily along the main arm 10 within the frame 27. The guide channels 38 preferably are aligned with the main T arm 10, so that the lateral guide 39 will be placed under a slight bending stress in extending over the main arm 10. Thus, the lateral guide will be held securely in position by this bending stress at any location along the arm 10, although quite readily moveable therealong when firm edgewise pressure is exerted thereon by the user. Either of the opposite edges of the lateral guide 39 may serve as scribing edges as hereinafter described, and accordingly should be perfectly straight and precisely parallel to each other.

It can be seen that the main T arm 10 and the lateral guide 39, in conjunction with the four frame members 2831, cooperate to define four quadrilateral areas 41, 42, 43, 44 within the frame. Assuming that the main arm 10 and the lateral guide 39 each are exactly parallel to their corresponding pairs of frame members, 29, 31 and 28, 30, respectively, these four quadrilaterals 41-44 will comprise rectangular openings which can be made of any desired size within the dimensional limits of the frame 27. To facilitate proper alignment of the arm 10 and the guide 39 with their associated frame members, suitable locating indicia 46 are incribed on the frame members 2S31. These indicia 46 also can be dimensionally identified advantageously to facilitate selecting a rectangle of predetermined dimensions, if desired.

It will also be seen that the scribing device can readily be placed over any desired rectangular object, such as a postage stamp or the like, and set to the precise dimensions of such object for scribing onto any sheet material.

As thus far described, the method of using the present improved scribing device no doubt will be apparent. A page of a book, or any sheet of paper, cardboard or other material on which rectangles are to be drawn is inserted between the holding member 19 and the main arm 10, and the wedge 22 moved into holding position. Of course, two or more sheets of material with carbon paper or the like can as well be inserted for making a number of copies. A preset rectangle can then be traced quickly and easily within any one of the quadrilateral openings 41-44, or the main arm 10 and the lateral guide 39 can be adjusted to the desired size and the scribing made; in either case, in perfect alignment with the edge of the sheet material. Where a number of rectangles of the same size are to be drawn at different places on the 76 (3. sheet in alignment with each other, the wedge 22 can be released and re-engaged quickly each time, and the scribing device moved to the several locations as desired, assuring complete uniformity of outlines.

For the scribing of other geometrical forms, such as triangles, parallelograms and the like, and all in predetermined relation to the edge of a sheet of material, another feature of the invention is in the provision of a supplementary lateral guide member 47. As shown in Figure 5, this supplementary guide can be used in the same frame with the lateral guide 39, or in place thereof.

The supplementary guide 47 comprises an elongated base portion 48 having end portions which fit within the guide channels 38. Two additional members 49, 51 extend from the base at angles of 30 and 60 degrees thereto, respectively, thereby meeting at right angles to each other, forming a triangle.

A swingable straight-edge member 52 is pivoted to the triangle at the apex thereof. Along one edge of the base strip 48, suitable indicia are provided as indicated at 53 to indicate, say, the angular relation between the base strip 43 and one edge of the swingable element 52. Similar indicia 54 may also be provided along the other edge of the base strip 48 to give a ready reference reading of the angle between the swingable straight edge 52 and either of the side legs 49, 51 or other reference edge as desired.

With the supplementary guide member 47, it is seen that a variety of geometrical pattern can be set up and traced quickly as desired along any group of the several scribing edges provided, all at precise relation to an edge of the sheet material and all readily reproducible at other points on the same or other sheets of material. It will be understood, of course, that for proper angular relationships to be maintained, the several elements 48, 49, 51, 52 of the supplementary guide 47 should each have straight and precisely parallel opposite edges.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present invention provides a simple and inexpensive scribing guide having a wide variety of applications for the making of geometrical outlines quickly and accurately.

What is claimed is:

1. A scribing device comprising a T-square having an elongated main arm and a cross arm attached to said main arm at right angles thereto, clamp means associated with said T-square for releasably gripping a sheet of material with one edge of aid sheet abutting said cross arm and with said sheet underlying said main arm, an open rectangular frame structure carried by said main arm and slideable longitudinally and mounted laterally relative thereto, releasable clamping means for locking said frame in any selected position on said main arm, and a lateral guide extending across said frame normal to said main arm and moveable within said frame relatively longitudinally with respect to said main arm whereby to provide within said frame four quadilateral areas separated from each other by said main arm and said lateral guide.

2. A scribing device comprising a first straight-edged member, a cross arm at one end of said first member and at right angles thereto, clamping means for gripping a sheet of material beneath said first member and with an edge of said sheet abutting said cross arm and comprising a holding member extending from said cross arm beneath said first member and a wedge slideable along said first member into and out of wedging engagement with said holding member, said wedge having an operating element operably engageable from the upper side of said device, an open rectangular frame mounted by and slideable longitudinally and laterally on said first member, releasable clamping means engageable with said frame for holding said frame at any desired location relative to said first member, a lateral guide extending across said frame normal to said first member and movable along said frame longitudinally of said first member, said frame having indicia thereon for locating two opposite sides thereof relative to said first member and for locating said lateral guide relative to the other two sides of said frame.

3. A scribing device comprising a T-square having an elongated main arm and a cross arm attached to said main arm at right angles thereto, clamp means associated with said T-square for releasably gripping a sheet of material with one edge of said sheet abutting said cross arm and with said sheet underlying said main arm, four straight-edged frame members defining a rectangular frame, two of. said frame members on opposite sides of said frame having ali ned slots therein extending therethrough. and also extending substantially from end to end thereof for slidably accommodating said main arm of said T-square, said frame being mounted on said main arm and movable longitudinally and laterally with respect thereto with said main arm extending through said aligned slots in opposite sides of said frame, clamp means associated with said main arm and said frame for clamping said frame in any selected lateral and longitudinal position on said main a'rrn, the other two of said frame members having aligned channels therein extending from end to end thereof, and a lateral guide comprising a member extending between said two other frame members and having end portions fitting slideably into said channels whereby said lateral guide is movable along said main arm between said two opposite frame members.

4. The invention defined in claim 3 wherein said lateral guide comprises a straighvedged base portion extending between said two other frame members, two straight-edged leg portions extending from said base portion and forming a triangle therewith, and a swingable straight-edged member pivotally attached to the apex of said triangle for cooperation with other portions of said scribing device to define geometrical patterns of various size and shape.

5. A scribing device comprising a T-square having a main straight-edged arm, four straight-edged frame members defining an open rectangular frame, two of said frame members on opposite sides of said frame having aligned slots therein extending substantially from end to end thereof for accommodating said main T-square arm, said frame being mounted on said arm and movable both laterally and longitudinally with respect thereto with said main arm extending through said aligned slots in opposite sides of said frame, means on said arm for holding said frame in any selected position on said arm, the other two of said frame members having channels therein which are aligned with each other and with said slots, and a lateral guide comprising a straight-edged member extending between said two other frame members bowed over said arm and having its end portions slideably fitted into said channels whereby said lateral guide is movable longitudinally along said main arm between said other two opposite frame members, said lateral guide member being stressed by said bowed over arrangement into movementresisting engagement with said main arm by virtue of said alignment of said slots and said channels.

6. A scribing device comprising a T-square having a main straight-edged arm, frame members defining an open rectangular frame, two of said frame members on opposite sides of said frame being slideably mounted on said main arm for movement both laterally and longitudinally with respect to said arm, a pair of resilient clamping elements mounted slideably on said arm adjacent to said two frame members and engageable therewith for holding said frame in any selected position relative to said arm,

a lateral guide comprising a member slideably mounted on said frame and extending at right angles to said arm and movable longitudinally with respect to said arm, and clamping means on said T-square operable from the upper side thereof for holding a sheet of material beneath said arm and said frame with an edge of said material at right angles to said arm.

7. A scribing device comprising a T-square having an elongated main arm and a cross arm attached to said main arm at one end thereof and at right angles thereto, clamping means for gripping a sheet of material beneath said main arm and with an edge of said sheet abutting said cross arm, said clamping means comprising a holding member extending from said cross arm beneath said main arm and spaced from said main arm, said holding member having a beveled free end portion defining with said arm a tapered opening into which to insert said sheet of material, said main arm having a slot therein extending from said cross arm beyond said free end of said holding member, a wedge member operable from the upper side of said device and slideably mounted in said slot and having a beveled undersurface adapted to cooperate with said beveled end portion of said holding member for gripping said sheet of material therebetween, an open rectangular frame structure carried by said main arm and slideable longitudinally and laterally relative thereto, means for clamping said frame in any selected position on said main arm, and a lateral guide slideably mounted in said frame at right angles to said main arm and moveable longitudinally with respect to said main arm.

8. A scribing device comprising a T-square having an elongated main arm and a cross arm attached to said main arm at right angles thereto, clamp means associated with said T-square for releasably gripping a sheet of material with one edge of said sheet abutting said cross arm and with said sheet underlying said main arm, four frame members defining an open rectangular frame, said frame being slideably mounted on said main arm and moveable longitudinally and laterally with respect thereto, clamp means for holding said frame in any selected position on said main arm, a lateral guide comprising a base portion extending between two said frame members on opposite sides of said frame and slideably mounted thereon whereby said guide is moveable longitudinally with respect to said main arm, two leg portions extending from said base portion and forming a triangle therewith, and a swingable straight-edged member pivotally attached to the apex of said triangle and thereby moveable into selectable angular alignments with other portions of said scribing device, said frame members having indicia thereon for locating said frame relative to said arm and for locating said base portion of said lateral guide relative to said arm, and said base portion of said lateral guide having indicia thereon for indicating angular relationships between said swingable member and other portions of said scribing device.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 673,046 Conzett Apr. 30, 1901 1,427,334 Stone Aug. 29, 1922 1,894,233 Ellis Jan. 10, 1933 2,140,206 Martin Dec. 13, 1938 2,142,765 Shattow Jan. 3, 1939 2,403,614 Ross July 9, 1946 

